The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-26
THE EASTER OFFERINGS.
Kitty Grey to Her Father and Vice
Verse

Kitty Grey's face, usually so merry,
looked SO sober and perplexed one
Thursday afternoon that Edith Halstead
reused herself from the fascinating
mysteries of Kensington embroidery to
ascertain the cause.
"What is the matter with you to-day,
Katharine Grey? verify believe that
you have not smiled once since you
came over here. Have you torn your
new dress climbing fences? That is
the most probable calamity of which l
can think at the present moment"
Kitty smiled family as she shook her
curly head. my dress is all right,
thank you, my dear; your insinuation
is absurd. | have not climbed fence
for six weeks. 1t is exceedingly for
tunate that it is not torn, for l should
probably be obliged to wear it, even
if it were. New dresses are rather I'M
common at our house" sg
There was a little accent of bitter
ness and rebellion in Kittie's voice as
she utter the last words, which Edith
was quick to note.
"You want something that you can't
have; ism that the trouble?" she ques-
toned shrewdly; I'm astonished, Kit
tie, you are usually SO delightfully."-
philosophical with regard to such mat
tiers. Tell me all about it, my dear"
she concluded coaXingly, casting aside
her beloved Kensington, that she might
give her undoubted attention to the re-
cital of Kittie swoes. She looked so
sympathetic that Kittie yielded at once.
Eyes" she acknowledged, 81 want
some money; want it ba ly and there
is not the faintest possibility Of my be-
ing able to get it. Someway, l can't
manage to feel at all philosophical over
this matter. 1t is horribly inconven-
lent to be respectfully poor; you should
be profoundly thankful that you don't
know from personal experience just
how inconvenient it is. Sometimes |
think | would rather be street Arab
and beg from house to house, than be
obliged to economic and plan so con-
tinually in order to make respectable
appearance. There would be an actual
excitement in being extremely poor
and not knowing what one would have
to eat for the next meal, or whether
he would have any thing at all" Two
tears glistened in Kittie's large bright
eyes, sight so unusual that Edith
looked at her with something of dis
may. Why should Kittie, usually Sc
Supremacy indifferent to trifles like
worn-out gloves, soiled ribbons, dilapi.
dated shoes and old-fashioned dresses,
suddenly become so dissatisfied with
her CHEEKY little home? For X tiles
home was CHEEKY and pleas.
ant, despite the fact that the
little town was so outrageously healthy
that Dr.. Grey's income was barely
sufficient to meet the necessary ex,
penses, leaving no margin at all fol
luxuries. DR.. Grey was genial and
pleasant, his wife was invariably Sc.
rene and even-tempered, the four boys
were generous and afectionate, even il
somewhat mischievous and tantalizing
.Kittie, herself, was ordinarily rs bright
and contcnted a lassie as could be
found any place. What could be the
trouble to-day? 81 must find out al
about it," was Edith's unspoker
thoy""l Seating herself on the arm
of ssMPt,ne's chair, she mperlously or
'cd the confession to proceed, "YoI
always make me your eonfdant event
ually, you know, Katharine, so it vii
save trouble if you will unburden you
mind at once, and tell me why yol
have become SO dreadfully mercenary
PrOncedr
Kittie laughed. 1t was so absurd Il
see Edith, who seldom vsntured Il
contradict or oppose her in the least
put on a semblance Of stern author ty
"My dear child, do you see this?'
she asked, drawing forth from he
pocket portmonnaie, whose externa
appearance, at least, did not indicate
that it secreted much wealth. "Nov
listen" she continued, opening it ant
pouring its contents Into her lap